Divergent is an amazing book. Great story, action packed, amazing characters and sweet romance. I think this is probably my favorite book of 2011. ItDivergent is an amazing book. Great story, action packed, amazing characters and sweet romance. I think this is probably my favorite book of 2011. It is a MUST-READ and I would recommend to fans of The Hunger Games. It also inspired my need/want for everything Dystopian world, and I've found some other great books because of it!

I feel like my review will not give the book justice. See below for how I felt during/after:

I don't think the story is perfect, but my overall impression is that the book really is amazing. The beginning was a bit too slow, and in some partsI don't think the story is perfect, but my overall impression is that the book really is amazing. The beginning was a bit too slow, and in some parts a bit corny, but once I pushed past the initial slow part...the book just got better and better. Having Lena experience the "symptoms" of Love, really was the best part of the book. The newness, the excitement, the way it was really hard to hide but they did what they had to. The way Lena felt from the beginning of the book, excited to get cured and then all of a sudden having thoughts that she would rather die than be cured... The book has a hint of Romeo and Juliet in itself, which is referenced in the beginning of the book as mandatory reading for what can happen when you fall in love. Love can kill you. The ending left me stunned, taking me on a complete roller coaster of emotions. I found myself trying to read as fast as I could to try to keep up. I can't wait to see how she grows from her experiences in Pandemonium.

Without being spoilerish, I read the summary of the next book and the sneak peek that is the back of the book... All I can say is that I will be really sad if a certain character does not make it after everything!!...more

This book is a super, action-packed, smart, thrilling, and a very emotional read. I felt just about every emotion while reading. I had tears in my eyeThis book is a super, action-packed, smart, thrilling, and a very emotional read. I felt just about every emotion while reading. I had tears in my eyes twice. And Chapter 5-6 was one of the most hilarious things I have ever read! Thank goodness for a bit of comic relief because before/after that it was one big roller coaster of an emotional ride. Such a fun and unique book and characters. This is blowing The Hunger Games out of the water, for me, yes I said it...In only two books.

My incoherent Divergent/Insurgent fangirling continues. andand

fangirl Spoiler time, I can't make this nice and neat, because all I have are feelings: (view spoiler)[ Four's mom is alive! OMG! O.O And she ends up being a mess too. Also, I'm soooooo curious to find out what Edward did to provoke the butter knife to the eye! What did Edward do?! I hope this is foreshadowing for something we might find out in book three. Caleb playing both sides was so harsh. I really liked him and then to find out that he never left Erudite and was working for Jeanine!? I was so angry! I liked that Christina turned out to still be there for Tris, even when it seemed like it was going to be impossible. And last, it drove me CRAZY that Tris and Four were never on the same page and just off on completely different paths through most of the book. I was like why don't you two listen to each other! You love and care about each other! Tris was being completely reckless and the Four was being annoyingly stubborn. Still, there's got to be some conflict, that's real life. And after everything was said and done, I understood the reasoning for both of them and still love these characters so much. Crazy ending that answers a question that was flagged in Divergent. I was curious what was beyond the gate. My theory was that someone was observing them kind of (Maze Runner) to study how they were able to live harmonious and without conflict. Now, Amanda Ritter/ Edith Prior...and the world that they live in! What is going to happpppppeeeennnnn! Why did she pick the name Prior?! How far into the future are they? Were they all just picked from their lives and drugged? Placed in this world? Are their memories even their own? OMG!!!! So many questions and I have to wait another year? ASDFGHJKL; ASDFGHJKL; ASDFGHJKL; (hide spoiler)]

In conclusion, Read this book. Read the series.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

Warning: This review will contain exclamation points and I'll try to hold back shouting. :)

This book is so different from anything I've reWOW WOW WOW!

Warning: This review will contain exclamation points and I'll try to hold back shouting. :)

This book is so different from anything I've read, and I was a bit iffy starting it, because it takes place in space on a ship. But, hey, I like space. But, this is the second best book I've read this summer... and to be quite honest, this will probably be one of my favorite books. I don't know if this will be much of a review, but to give you just my impression of it and I don't want to give anything away. Sometimes you read a first page, or a first chapter of a book and you are sold. This is one of those books!! The beginning: Amy's POV is both claustrophobic and terrifying. Elder's POV is full of questions. And putting them together has so much unexpectedness that I just don't' want to stop. I don't even have words right now to describe how AMAZING the books is. I love the alternate POV's. The book was impossible to put down, I HAD to know what was going to happen. There are a few things that seem a bit immature reading, but it's YA and the entire thing isn't that way. The story is just so fast-paced from the beginning that it never lost my attention. The romance isn't in your face either, which is very refreshing. Also, it made me appreciate that I can go outside anytime at night and see the stars. :)

All in all let me just say "Shite" you really should "frexing" read it. Two "frexing" thumbs up!!! (that's something you'll get when you read it. So go read it!)

I'm so excited for the next book, it's ridiculous, luckily it will be out early next year! yeah!!...more

Across the Universe was one of my favorite reads of 2011. When you read a book that is just so UN-putdownable, the stakes are pretty high. I'm happy tAcross the Universe was one of my favorite reads of 2011. When you read a book that is just so UN-putdownable, the stakes are pretty high. I'm happy to say that A Million Suns... DELIVERED. The year is young, but I can say that this will be one of my favorites of 2012. Since I know that some people have not yet read this book, I like to leave reviews that are thoughts and not necessarily a summary.

First of all, the cover? GORGEOUS. Space is cool. Secondly, AHHHHHHH! I loved the second book just as much (if not more) than ATU.

WHAT I LIKED: 1) In the first three chapters a SHOCKING and I mean SHOCKING discovery is revealed. I never saw it coming. 2) Amy and Elder. I love these characters and care what happens to them. ATU ended with lots of tension between Amy and Elder. A secret was confessed and it was very clear that things would change between them. It doesn't magically go away in the second book, there is some awkwardness between them and confusion about feelings. There is a lot of tension and they spend a lot of the book apart, but for different and important reasons. Elder in this book, really grew up as he should as new leader of the ship. He is tested so much, that I want to virtually yell at the ship and tell them to give him a "frexing" break! He has a lot on his shoulders and it was fun watching him try to deal with problem after problem. 3) The unexpected enemies. And yes, there are a few of them that emerge as the "bad guys." I again, was entirely shocked to see who ended up on the "wrong" side. 4) The mystery unfolds like a scavenger hunt and I couldn't have loved that idea more! I really love that these stories have been so mysterious. If you like space, romance, and mystery, the "Across the Universe" has so far been such a beautiful combination of all three.

Yesterday on the news there was a story about a woman who will be the first ever recipient of a double arm transplant. The first thing that came to miYesterday on the news there was a story about a woman who will be the first ever recipient of a double arm transplant. The first thing that came to mind was UNWIND and of course UNWHOLLY, since body parts is the major theme in this series. She's on a list (the only person on it). This book had several "real" stories that linked to true web articles, and it made it just seem that much more real. The thing about this book and series so far is how eerily close to imaging this in a real world. Neal Shusterman has an amazing ability to make his characters feel real, and this book is no exception.There's reasons to why people become the way they do. There are events or people or circumstances. The world that the characters live in is a truly frightening and cruel place to live in. And it isn't about other beings, but people themselves. So much going in this book! Ive got a couple of new characters to root for, a character that can't see his own destruction, and Cam, Cam, Cam! Scary enemies and weird groups who are so misguided. I Look forward to the conclusion because I have no idea how this can end!...more

I am a huge fan of "UNWIND" by Neal Shusterman. That was the first book I've read by him and "BRUISER" only my second. I think its safe to say that thI am a huge fan of "UNWIND" by Neal Shusterman. That was the first book I've read by him and "BRUISER" only my second. I think its safe to say that the author knows how to tell a compelling, unique, well-written story.

WHAT I LIKED: 4 POV's: Tennyson, Brontë, Brew, and Cody. The author allows each character to have their own "voice" and shows how their actions affect others. If you've read the summary, and without being too "spoilery", Brew has an unusual "gift" of healing. He leads an odd life with his uncle and half-brother. When he gets close w/ Brontë and she shows him that its okay to let others into his life, things are set in motion. When circumstances force Brew and Cody into her family's life... things get very tricky.

Finally, the story is a tear-jerker. It's a book that really makes you think. What would you do if you didn't have phyiscal or mental pain? If you didnt have to worry about being cautious of hurting yourself? How long could you be happy? What if you couldn't cry even if you knew it could help you heal? What if you couldn't yell or be angry when you were frustrated? And the story doesn't even really feel impossible. I think I have grasped that even when life doesn't seem fair, emotions are what can help us heal. Own your own pain.

There was nothing to dislike. I'm only sorry I pushed it back on my tbr list for so long. It felt like a super fast read, but it is of normal length. RECOMMEND....more

Oh, Oh, My Heart. This book made me FEEL things. The power of words are strong here...

I had the opportunity to chance upon an electronic copy of theOh, Oh, My Heart. This book made me FEEL things. The power of words are strong here...

I had the opportunity to chance upon an electronic copy of the ARC and I'm so glad I did! I'm excited for the release so others can read it an enjoy it and love it as much as I do. If you are wondering how much time it will take to read, don't worry! It's a quick read, but it packs a powerful and meaningful punch. The chapters are paced perfectly so that after each chapter there is almost a bigger cliff hanger than the previous one and there's never a dull moment.

As usual, I won't summarize the book entirely, there are "official summaries" for that.

What I thought: This story is told using two narratives, alternating chapters/characters-- Emmy who's Baby was stolen in broad daylight, and Sophie-- who is home-schooled by her mother and not allowed to leave their home. They are on the run from the "No Good" and move constantly. As we get to know the characters, we find out very quickly what connection they hold. Later, there are characters that chance into Emmy and Sophie's life who will steal your heart.

I am a first time reader of Beth Kephart's writing and I am incredibly impressed with the beautiful details and poetic way of saying something so simple. Her characters feel so real, that it almost felt like I knew them personally. To me, the sign of a good book is when I'm highlighting quotes that I want to remember and come back to. The characters are memorable and purposeful and I want to hug them and stroke their fictional hair and cry with them. Which brings me to my next point... I was reading through my tears and grasping tissues in the later part of the book. Finally, the ending was absolutely brilliant and so visually descriptive that it felt like I was right there next to them taking in the scene.

Overall To me, I know when I've read a good book when after I read, I can't stop thinking about the characters and the story. To me, it is a good story when I'm typing up a review at nearly 2 a.m. to try to capture the way I feel about it, right away. This story is fantastic and I definitely recommend to anyone who comes across my review. 5/5 stars.

Awesome! super-fast read. I can't even describe it, except to say that I really loved James and Helen, and their "voices" were true to their time. I eAwesome! super-fast read. I can't even describe it, except to say that I really loved James and Helen, and their "voices" were true to their time. I enjoyed the mix of old and new. This story was super original and the writer definitely has a beautiful way w/ words! This shouldn't be in YA, I don't think, as the characters, though in young bodies, are in their twenties and behave as such....more

Good book. 3.5 stars, only because i felt cheated on the ending. Very quick read, mostly because I could not put it down. On the very first page, the

Good book. 3.5 stars, only because i felt cheated on the ending. Very quick read, mostly because I could not put it down. On the very first page, the main character writes a suicide note... And, i'll say that she doesn't just all of a sudden snap out of it. She struggles. The book is depressing. Oh yeah, and there are zombies outside because it's the end of the world. Never truly feels like a zombie book though until the very end. I DID NOT like how it ended. I wanted MORE. There was no real closure and I wonder if there will be a sequel? Am I supposed to just imagine the rest? :( ...more

This book. This series. I'm taking notes on how to build an interesting, action-packed book! It's a perfect mix. And the writing style that pretty mu

This book. This series. I'm taking notes on how to build an interesting, action-packed book! It's a perfect mix. And the writing style that pretty much frustrated me in the beginning, now I'm thinking is genius. I think it adds a unique voice to the book that i never expected. This one is kind of mind- tiring? I feel tired after finishing this one, probably because my brain was tired from work and I couldn't put the book down! ( just one more chapter...3 hrs later...) And the violence is so graphic and terrible. :( Ness is not afraid to kill characters. But I don't care because I was too busy trying to read ahead to see if my theories were correct. I'm generally a fan of the two POV stories, but I can see how some people might not care for it. I definitely feel like i know and understand Todd's character more. I think Todd is one my favorite characters ever. That's not to say that I didn't want to throw him things in this book. His decisions at times............... I saw that there was a supplement story about Viola, so i'll need to check that out. All in all, awesome follow-up. Crossing fingers for at least a semi-happy ending? Looking forward to the next book! yay! Awesome! 4.5 stars. ...more

"Tell me there is still good in this world. Tell me there is still hope for all of us."

THIS BOOK. Ahhhhhh!!! First off, this book like the rest of th"Tell me there is still good in this world. Tell me there is still hope for all of us."

THIS BOOK. Ahhhhhh!!! First off, this book like the rest of the series has an amazing mix of action and the climax in every book has been incredibly exciting...this ending being no exception. I've also really enjoyed the romance aspect, although not always center of the story, it really is a nice (brief) break to the harsher parts of the story. The Legend series finale is everything that I hoped the Divergent (ending) would have been: exciting, emotional, challenging, and the author let's the characters I grew to love have a proper ending with a chance of happiness, hope, and love. My only beef w/ the ending is (view spoiler)[ why didn't Eden say something about June to Day?? I mean, she became at least a bit close to him at the end...why leave the country w/o saying something, like, "hey remember when you had a girlfriend before you were in a coma? Whom also visited you while you were in a coma? For 5 months?" Did she ask Eden and Tess to lie and not say anything?? Ahhh I wanted to pull my hair out! I guess him remembering her would have made the ending too easy for a dystopian series? BUT, I loved, loved, loved that Day was wearing his paper clip ring in the epilogue!!! My heart turned to mush there. Even though they are starting from scratch again, I have NO DOUBT that they will find love with each other again. (hide spoiler)] This ending of this series is not perfect or even ideal either... But it makes sense, and most importantly, I believed in this story and agreed w/ their sacrifices and understood their choices (how hard they were.) And I think the epilogue is wonderful. A+ Marie Lu....more

Hello, nearly 4 am... Thanks for stabbing me directly in the heart, ending. Review to come. -------This is the kind of book that you read for 5 hoursHello, nearly 4 am... Thanks for stabbing me directly in the heart, ending. Review to come. -------This is the kind of book that you read for 5 hours non-stop, because you can't put it down. This is an emotional book and not by any means an "easy" book. This is a book that at times gets REALLY Tough. But, it's a book that will also make you think, and make you feel, and remember. My mind was in overdrive at the ending. And next morning, I'm still thinking about it!! And I can't stop. thinking. about. it. I just...was blown away by how the writer captured the vulnerability, newness, passion, self-doubt, PLUS PLUS PLUS, etc. etc.

I don't know, I just loved the book. Eleanor & Park pretty much crushed my soul, lol. Beautiful and heart wrenching story. It's hard to describe without reading it for yourself and falling for the characters.

Also, I want to read everything by this author. Hope the good streak continues. :)

SPOILER ALERT (Don't ruin it, if you haven't read it!!)

(view spoiler)[ Here's the three words that I wanted to see on that postcard:

1) I miss you.

2) I want you.

3) I love you.

So, for me, If I wrote the ending, that's what I'd put, because they fought, Eleanor was brave, and they deserve a life together, even if they were only teenagers. And to me, I think they found their way back together, maybe slowly, maybe right away. But they did.(hide spoiler)]...more

This book is a combination of unfairness, sadness, love, hope, fears, truthfulness, and peace. I'd been stalling reading the book for personal concernThis book is a combination of unfairness, sadness, love, hope, fears, truthfulness, and peace. I'd been stalling reading the book for personal concerns, having not really wanting to deal with the fact that for so many people this is a true story. And it hits a nerve, because doesn't everyone know someone has had to deal with cancer? And when, I/You've watched it happen to one or many real, close family and others, how much more it hurts?

How can you read a book knowing full well that the pages in the book will not lead to happy ending? So, I thought, originally... this is not going to be a fun read for me, and so, even though I've had the book for awhile, I really couldn't bring myself to read it. Somehow, when searching for my next book to read, I saw the cover of the book and decided, since 98% of the people I follow on goodreads have read it, and all but a couple have given it less than 5 or 4 stars, now was the time.

So, I thought I'd read a chapter or two, but NOPE. This book is nearly impossible to put down. I loved that in the face of a terminal illness Hazel (Grace) and Gus used humor to deal with their health. And there were real family and personal struggles, because it's really a domino effect, how everyone's life is different or feels changed. And it was just impossible not to immediately love and feel protective over them. Maybe there is not really a Hazel & Gus out there, but I think their characters speak for someone or many out there dealing with the same issues. There's not much that I can say, that millions of people haven't said before. But, there were so many tears and rough parts in the book that I had to put the book down, only to come back to it within minutes. I think the book is important, real, and has definitely affected me, personally. It hurts. ...more